Thomas w



(N0 Modl.)

T. W. DAMES.

MATCH B0X.

No. 587,287. Patented July 27, 1897.-

UNITED STATES ATNT unten.

THOMAS IV. DAVIES, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT IV.

I-IILL AND GEORGE G. KENNE-Y, OF SAME PLACE.

MATCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 587,287, dated July 27, 1897. Application tiled January 18, 1897. Serial No. 619,591l (No model.)

T @ZZ whom it may con/cern.-

Be it known that 1, THOMAS W. DAvIEs, of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to match-boxes; and it consists in the vnovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.Y

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a matchbox constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken, approximately, on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional. view taken longitudinallyr of the matches and approximately on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

In the constructionof a match-box in accordance with the principles of my invention the side pieces 3 and 4 are mounted in vertical parallel positions. The back piece 5 is attached to the rear edges of the side pieces 3 and 4 and extends upwardly some distance above the upper edges of said side pieces and has an opening 6 near its upper end and approximately at its center to be used in hanging the match-box upon the wall. The bottom piece 7 is attached to the lower edges of the side pieces 3 and 4 and of the back piece 5 and extends some distance in front of the side pieces 3 and 4. A triangular cleat 8 is attached to the front face of the back piece 5 and between the end pieces 3 and 4 in a position parallel with the bottom piece and some distance above said bottom piece. The plate 9 fits between the side pieces 3 and 4, and ears 10 project from the ends of said plate 9, and pins l1 extend through said ears and through said side pieces 3 and 4, as required to form a pivotal connection between said side pieces and said plate 9. A bead 12 is formed upon the upper edge of the plate 9 and acts as a weight to overbalance said plate forwardly. The lower edge of the plate 9 engages against the front face of the back piece 5, as required to limit the backward and upward motion of said edge, and the plate normally stands at an angle of approximately forty-tive degrees relative to said back piece.

A top piece 13is attached to the upper edges ofv the side pieces 3 and 4, and said top piece extends from the front edges of said side pieces backwardly to a position above the bead 12, this leaving an opening 14 between the rear edge of said top piece and said back piece 5.' l

The plate 15 is placed between the side pieces 3 and 4 with its rear edge near the inner face of the back' pieces 5, and the pin 16 is inserted through the side pieces 3 and 4 and through said plate 15, as required to form a pivotal support for said plate, the pin 16 being located near the front edges and a short distance above the lower edgesof the side pieces 3 and 4. The rear edge of the plate 15 is below the cleat 8 and as close as practical to the inner face of theback piece 5. Immediately in front of the pin 16 and in the upper face of the plate 15 is formed a groove 17, extending the entire length of said plate 15 and parallel with the pin 16. The groove 17 has the enlargement 17 at one of its ends, as shown in Fig. 3, to receive the heads of the matches. The front edge of the plate 15 extends some distance in front of the front edges of the side pieces 3 and 4, and a concavedA surface 18 is formed upon the upper side of the portion of said plate outside of said side pieces, said concaved surface running parallel with the groove 17.

The front piece 19 is formedA of resilient sheet metal, and said front piece extends from the upper edges ofthe side Apieces 3 and 4to a point within the upper part of the groove 17. ,The upper parts of the ends of the plate 19 are attached to the side pieces 3 and 4, and the lower parts of said ends are not attached, thus leaving the lower edge of said plate free to operate as a spring.

The matches are placed in the opening 14 upon the plate 9, and the weight of said matches will overbalance the bead 12 and the matches will pass downwardly into the box andV rest upon the p1ate`15. The plate 15 normally rests with its rear edge upon the bottom 7, andl the lower edge of the front piece 19 is so arranged relative to the groove 17 that the match will passinto said groove 17. When the front edge of the plate 15 is depressed, the match within the groove 17 IOO will pass under the lower edgewof the front piece 19 and within reach of the operator. Should the match inthe groove be too large to pass freely under the edge of said front piece 19, or should more than one match enter the groove at a time, the lower edge of said front piece 19 will spring and allow the passage of said 'match ormatches under said front piece. The plate 15 is operated by placing the hand upon the coneaved surface 1S and depressing said surface, thus elevating the rear edge of said plate against the cleat 8, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The plate 15 is overbalanced backwardly and will return to its normal position as soon as the hand is removed from the concaved surface 1S, and another match will fall intothe groove 17 and will be delivered when the plate is again operated. The cleat 8 acts as a defiector to throw the matches forwardly.

I claim- 1. In a match-box, suitable side pieces, a plate pivotally mounted between said side pieces in an approximately horizontal position and having a groove formed in its upper face immediately in front of its pivot, a resilient sheet-metal front piece connecting said side pieces and with its lower edge in position to yieldingly operate in the upper part of said groove, said groove being designed to receive one match at a time and pass said match under said front piece as said plate is operated upon its pivot, substantially as specified.

2. In a match-box, a suitable box-like receptacle having an opening in the rear part of its top piece, a plate pivotally mounted below said opening, the forward upper edge of said plate being weighted to overbalance said plate and the rear lower edge of said plate engaging against -the back piece of the box, a plate pivotally mounted in the bottoni of the box in an approximately horizontal position, the last-n1entioned plate having a groove formed in its upper face immediately in front of its pivot, a resilient sheet-metal front piece connecting said side pieces and with its lower edge in position to yieldingly operate in the upper part of said groove, said groove being designed to receive one match at a time and pass said match under said front piece as said plate is operated upon its pivot, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence ot' two witnesses.

THOMAS WV. DAVIES. Vitnesses:

EDWARD E. LoNeAN, MAUD GRIFFIN. 

